DVDMagic

Just received a Panasonic DMP-BD60 Blu Ray Player and the staff at Best Buy told my wife that it would play Netflix streaming.

While th box says Viera cast and YouTube, there is no mention of the Netflix feature.

Did they misinform her? Or will it play Netflix streaming?

TheKobra

It will not stream netflix.

Bacon

it will do amazon.com streaming but not netflix and imagine that a Worst Buy employee that doesn't know anything about the products they sell

Osiris3657

It's a great player, I have one. I'm most impressed with how good it upconverts DVDs

DVDMagic

If I were to add a WiFi adaptor, would that enable Netflix to be played, or is just a case of the player's firmware not supporting Netflix?

TheKobra

This would do nothing for Netflix. I never recommend firmware updates over the web. Best to download it to thumb-drive and upgrade that way.

Spiky

Why? The Panny BD players can update automatically via ethernet, you'd never really notice. And it works just fine.

TheKobra

All it takes is a bad download to brick the player.

SUPERMANROB

True but Doesn't happen very often and pretty sure they would fix or replace it.

Spiky

If they screw my player, I'll get a new one free. I haven't even heard of that happening to any player, not if you mean what I would mean by "brick". Although, I'll admit I do manual updates rather than auto. For the reason of waiting to see if firmware is helpful or causes some issue. I like to let other users beta test.

These companies have a history of making CD/SD/USB updates a real PITA. Panny is one of the better ones, but still there are some bizarre things they've done. Like putting out subsequent updates in different file formats so you have to understand all that to use it. Average people can easily handle ethernet.

Grandie

It does not do Netflix. There has been some talk of the possibility of Panasonic adding Netflix all year, but now it doesn't seem likely before the next generation of players. Technically, I think they could add it through their Vieracast interface, but I assume they haven't added it because Panasonic couldn't come to an agreement with Netflix.

I've done all the updates over the network without a problem.

Scott_R

It's being added: Google "Panasonic Adds Major New Content and Features to VIERA CAST(TM) HDTVs and Blu-ray Disc Players" with the quotes (I can't post URLs yet).

Superman07

Where is your source for this? So far the only thing I have seen is that 2010 products with Viera Cast will receive these added features. The status of previous 2009 models (e.g. DMP-BD60 and 80) is unknown.

AxelBay

I saw an article saying 2009 Panasonic Blu-ray players chipset won't allow an update to include the new additions this year. I have a TV and Blu-ray player with viera cast on it. If the Blu-ray can't be updated that's fine as long as the TV can be updated. I'd rather pay for netflix then the $2-$5 each to rent movies from amazon VOD.

http://www.bigpicturebigsound.com/CE...-Players.shtml

Grandie

Well, I suspect this is not a technical issue, but a question of marketing or licensing. There were rumors of Netflix possibly being added last year and the 2009 models have had new features "coming soon" that were added during the life of the product (such as Amazon VOD). Vieracast features work through Panasonic's remote servers, so I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be possible to add Netflix support with a server and firmware update. I'm guessing most of the code could be easily re-used or ported from the 2010 models.

Anyway, the current official word is that owners of 2009 will not be getting Netflix. I guess they want owners of perfectly capable 2009 models to buy brand new machines for the new feature.

I'm hoping that Panasonic eventually comes around and adds Netflix for owners of last years models, but I think it's unlikely.

vice86

I got my brother a BD60 for Christmas...gotta say that the vierra cast or whatever they call the online content screen is kinda boring in its design. My friend has a Samsung BD player that seems to have a way better online UI.

The BD60 streams amazon? I didn't see it on the player...maybe he has to update his firmware.

Superman07

If it's honestly a chipset issue then I understand. However, if it's a marketing and/or profit issue then I think that's a very low move on their part. Otherwise how could you sell on, "Coming Soon" and then willfully omitt something?

Geofferson

There should be a dedicated Amazon component on the VieraCast menu.